Browsing Tag

neil young

Neil Young meets Pixies in Ryanne + The Rumination’s seminal single, Waste

Posted on 21 February 2024

Indiana’s Ryanne + The Rumination hit the airwaves running with their stylistically expansive self-titled debut LP, which explores the spectrum of human emotions within the psychological ebbs and flows.

The standout single, Wasting, exhibits the duo at their most ethereally magnetic. Ryanne’s crystalline vocal lines cut right through the Pixies-esque atmosphere manifested through the guitar-driven production that exhibits the duo’s influence of Neil Young.

Intimate and profound in equal measure, the artfully immersive single evolves from a dreamy monochromatic release of pent-up emotions to a melancholically stirring alt-pop anthem that won’t fail to pull you into its raw oscillating core. If Ryanne + The Rumination’s is the future of pop, I’m here for it.

Ryanne clearly found her alchemic match in the multi-instrumentalist, Seth Wyatt. The way the single culminates in a post-punk decorated disquiet crescendo after a lament on the frustrations of stagnation is a stunningly affecting way to make an ever-lasting impression.

Waste was officially released on February 9th and is now available to stream with the band’s eponymous LP via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The soulfully-funked hues in Jeremy Hilliard’s single Lay Down Like Lovers captured the haze of utopic affection.

Posted on 23 November 2023

Taken from his LP, which is rooted in swathes of nostalgic funk and soul, Trouble for Another Day, singer-songwriter, Jeremy Hilliard’s standout folky neo-jazz pop single, Lay Down Like Lovers, is a fitting ode to the serenity of passion. The dreamy hues capture the haze of unconditionally all-consuming love as the groove pockets deliver oceanic depth, ensuring Lay Down Like Lovers is a release you can fully immerse yourself in.

If you can’t get enough of the lyrically driven song-crafting finesse of Paul Simon, Kurt Vile, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, you will be instantly enamoured with the poetically mellifluous beguile within Lay Down Like Lovers, which is hopefully the first of many hits from the Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, who is coming into his own away from his successful band, PEAK, which has made America’s Northeast their touring circuit.

Stream Lay Down Like Lovers on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Oliver James Brooks synthesised contemporary sickness with the fever of the 70s in ‘Technologically Stoned.

Posted on 28 September 2023
https://bit.ly/OJB-TechnologicallyStoned-Video

To hold a mirror to the dystopic sickness of the day, the critically acclaimed Toronto singer-songwriter, Oliver James Brooks, lyrically narrated our iPhone co-dependency issues in stark contrast to the 70s fever of psych-folk timbres with his alt-folk-rock single, Technologically Stoned.

Illuminating the reality of the evolution of technology which is spurring the regression of society while orchestrating a lava lamp warm soundscape that consoles through the dusky hues couldn’t have been an easy feat; the resolving raconteur succeeded nonetheless.

The accompanying music video, shot on super 8mm film along the Humber River Valley, also acts as a compelling visual exposition of how the chokehold of our phones is blinding us to the natural beauty that is everywhere we turn. If any single is going to convince you to get your dopamine fix in a more organic way, it is Technologically Stoned; the organic and raw production leads by efficacious example.

Technologically Stoned was officially released on September 22; it will also feature in the artist’s third studio LP, A Little Long While, which will be available to stream on all major platforms from November 24.

Watch the official music video for Technologically Stone on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Number One Babe Team delivered spiritual salvation in their alt-indie single, The Final Hallelujah

Posted on 18 June 2023

With subversive references to While My Guitar Gently Weeps in the lyrics and a touch of Neil Young to the lightly timbered sentimentality in the vocals, the standout single, The Final Hallelujah, from Number One Babe Team’s debut LP, See You Later, is a euphonic reverie of nostalgia, which more than has its place on contemporary airwaves.

As alluded to by the indie band’s moniker, Number One Babe Team doesn’t take itself too seriously, making their soundscapes, which also incorporate shoegaze-y guitars and touches of Elliott Smith in the songwriting, infinitely sweeter.

If Neutral Milk Hotel honeyed their soundscapes to the nth degree but still maintained the quaint humility, the result wouldn’t be too far removed from the sonic signature scribed by the Salt Lake City premier act, which has become an integral part of the touring circuit since their 2022 debut.

Stream the full LP, which hit the airwaves on June 9, via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Desert Shade: “All For Nothing” – Classic Americana of the very best kind

Posted on 29 August 2020

Bringing the Classic Rock all the way from Annapolis, Maryland, comes Desert Shade. Describing themselves as ‘born out of necessity in the fall of 2019 to fulfil a headlining slot’, the band came from a scrabbled first headline set to a show that landed them on the Baltimore Soundstage just a few months later. Now, following a couple of early singles, they’re bringing their brand of Americana-influenced classic rock via this, from their forthcoming self-titled debut EP.

Awash of laid-back harmonica and tweedy Fender twang, meandering bass, and graced by a beautiful heavily wah-and-distorted lead-line from Nick M, ‘All For Nothing’ is a cigarette-lighters-at-the-ready burner in the style of ‘Someday Never Comes’ of ‘Forever Young’.

Quietly forceful and evocative without being schmalzy, ‘All For Nothing’ smoulders like the best of laid-back Neil Young, the Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, or the Grateful Dead.

You can check it out here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Hampshire based Folk-Roots artist Megan Linford shines bright with truthful ‘’Lessons’’

Posted on 31 May 2020

Put in time and you will get the results. With a soothing piano to start the song, you know this is going to be good. Giving thanks to her parents, speaking about lessons learnt- no matter how hard the occasional trips and falls. 

‘Megan Linford’, is making her way on the UK Folk/Indie scene with her sun-kissed melodies and honest lyrics, that shows her humble and grateful attitude to life. She is an Indie artist, doing it herself with the love and support of friends and family. She hosts her own music night in Portsmouth and seems to be learning all the sides of the music industry, a very smart move indeed. 

After already pushing out 2 self- released EP’s and 3 singles, Megan is working hard on her first album set for release in 2020. I personally can’t wait to hear the new music and hopefully lockdown hasn’t slowed anything down for her.

From the little I know about Megan, I can tell that this is an extremely industrious and hard working woman who won’t let anything stop her. Her voice is absolutely breathtaking and I can’t wait to see her live at a gig soon. The local music scene needs people like Megan, someone with a positive message and self-awareness, in these troubled times.

‘’Lessons’’ and more stunning vocals from Megan are here on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Sign of Leo releases single The Global Fight

Posted on 27 April 2020

Netherlands-based band The Sign of Leo have dropped their latest piece ‘The Global Fight’, infusing that Indie Rock sound pulling sounds from the 70’s and 80’s Rock scene, to create this catchy piece.

Starting off with that powerful hum that ends abruptly, as the strings collide together on the electric guitar and the heavy tap on the drum begins to seep through. Whilst having that synthesized keyboard sound that gives it that 80’s sound.

Adding in the upbeat clash of the tambourine that plays in the distance, alongside the heavy riffs on the guitar as the instrumentals have their time to shine, going back and forth with the heavy sound to the more synthesized essence.

The vocals have that raucous tone to them, making sure that they’re loud and high-pitched so that they manage to power through the instrumentals, as the rhythm does tend to overtake the vocals in terms of pitch and pace. But everything comes together in an impressive way, it all flows and is in tune with one another. Always keeping the volume loud to give it that real Rock sound.

Check out The Sign of Leo’s single The Global FIght by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Karley Myall

Happy Freuds – Break: It’s full of energy and major throwbacks

Posted on 29 March 2020

If you want something that’s going to throw you right back to the old school Classic Rock days then this is the one for you. Happy Freuds have this contagious energy, manic instrumentation and insane vocals, that real rock feel that throws you right back.

‘’Break’’ is a track that you can’t help but love, it’s energetic, chaotic and has so much personality that shines through, as a listener you can hear how much energy goes into the music and how well it comes out.

They have this talent that definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed, the guitar riffs are so precise and electrifying, the light taps on the drums and not to mention the killer vocals that just completely top everything off, it all combines so well together.

Happy Freuds have clearly shown the Rock world what they have to offer in this track, just by showing how good old school Classic Rock can really sound. A band with huge potential to make it massive and one we can’t wait to see do so.

Be sure to check out Break for yourselves by heading to SoundCloud now.

Review by Karley Myall

Tekla Waterfield – Original Lies: 90’s Nostalgic Pop

Posted on 21 April 2018

I grew up on the iconic sounds of 90’s female Pop acts; Texas, Garbage, Catatonia and The Cranberries to name a few. So, when I checked out the fresh new track Original Lies by the sensational Pop act Tekla Waterfield I was blown away by the nostalgia that is entrenched in the sound. She has a unique sensibility to her vocal style, however her vocal range is somewhat reminiscent to one of my favourite current artists Courtney Barnett. Yet it’s clear, that Tekla Waterfield is more than any sound that has been orchestrated before. The singer songwriter found her own essence within her poignantly palpable harmonies which she’s infused with the roots of her Seattle sound. Her sounds tend to bounce between Folk, Jazz, Indie and Blues through her discography proving that she’s one of the most eclectically talented underground artists around today.

With Original Lies, Tekla has created an anthemically catchy Pop hit, complete with an irresistibly catchy chorus that even Kim Gordon would give 5 stars.

Check out the sensational Pop hit Original Lies on SoundCloud:

Review by Amelia Vandergast

“It’s Music” – The HiGrounds’ Latest Rock And Roll Hit

Posted on 30 November 2017

Based in Manhattan Beach, CA, The HiGrounds are a band with a very particular sound that is essentially rock and roll with an evident contemporary flair. These guys share a passion for this type of music in particular, and this is shown in their music which clearly has a vintage character with a modern touch that only true dedicated musicians are able to create. With funky guitar progressions, punctuated by percussive piano and Hammond organ sounds backed by a solid rhythm section, their music is just one of a kind.

“it’s Music,” which is taken right off of their latest album “Wouldn’t Hurt To Show,” is a true reflection of what sounds and stylistic choices these guys are passionate about. The instrumental arrangement and texture do indeed provide that special vintage feel, particularly through the use of the organ, but this is not all the song has to offer. It has no shortage of catchy choruses and it also presents a feel-good sound suitable for pubs and bars, providing an authentic warm atmosphere. “It’s Music” is not only a song which is enjoyable to listen to. It is well crafted and performed. So if you like what you hear, make sure to check out the rest of the album too, and you will not be disappointed !

-Sarah Marie Bugeja